What Do You Think About the Rescue?

There is no rescue needed. The market needs to sort out the winners and losers. Yes it may hurt in the short term, but it is necessary for long term survival. If the government steps in and rescues the banks, they will simply turn around and act irresponsible again. Adding additional regulations will not work since they will just find a way around any new rules as they have done here. If the legislators insist on acting irresponsible also, then they should also rescue the home owners. The bailout should also include a provision requiring that any institution that participates in the bailout should be required to remove all foreclosures, late payment information and other negative information that they have put in any person’s credit report. Why shouldn’t the people also receive a bailout?

First: Re-Elect NOBODY!!! Second: Do nothing. Let the companies fail. They got themselves into this mess, why should someone else bail them out, especially me. Lots of talk about if this is not done NOW, companies will close, people will get laid off, etc. Newsflash - that's what's happening now without the bailout! Let them fail. The market won't collapse, it will correct itself. Other financial institutions will get larger, and new institutions will start to fill in the gaps. Get this mess over with now, and not drag this out for another 10 years by passing the bailout bill.

Just my thoughts: (1) Congress should demand return of all past paychecks of current or past senior and middle executives of financial institutions responsible for the sub-prime mess such Lehman Bros, Citibank, Wachovia, AIG, Freddie, Fannie, Merrill Lynch, WAMU, Countrywide, Bear Stearns and many more. These fallen executives deserved nothing for all these mess that they had created; bankrupt them if necessary. Use the funds to save a few more American homes! (2) Restrain credit agencies from downgrading fellow US companies unnecessrily at this critical time. (3) Permanent ban of all types of short selling, naked or borrowed.

The AMT should have been axed years ago. The "mark to market" rule is another matter. It works well as long as there is a functioning market. The SEC should be given the authority to declare a market impaired, suspend the rule, and provide a temporary valuation method until the market is declared functional. That removes valuations from the discretion of the bankers and other CFOs, but it does not produce an artificial death spiral for all assets affected by temporary market problems. I would like to suggest another provision. Euthanize the dreadful Financial Accounting Standards Board and vest the establishment of accounting standards with the SEC. The FASB has long been dominated by academics or wannabe academics who seem to lose touch with the real world immediately on appointment. The result has been a string of standards that have only clouded financial transparency. In the world of financial disclosure, less is not more. But more is not always the answer either. Try telling that to the average economist or accounting professor.

Bernard's First Law of Money: When the people own the money, they control the government. When the government owns the money, it controls the people. We need to allow for sound money by allowing COMPETITION IN CURRENCY. Who says the private cartel Federal Reserve through top-down command-and-control socialist policy knows what is best? Let the market decide by allowing choices and competition in currency.

FIRE PELOSI, FRANKS, PAULSON, AND DODD. LET THE INSTITUTIONS BORROW MONEY NOT A HAND OUT. BUT FIRST WHAT COULD YOU POSSIBLY DO ABOUT THE FACT HOUSES, GAS, AND FOOD PRICES JUMPED TO RIDICULOUS AMOUNTS, AND "WAGES" STAYES THE SAME. IT'S NOT THE FACT THEY LOANED MONEY FOR HOUSES IT'S THE FACT THEY PAID TOO MUCH FOR THESE HOUSES, AND PEOPLES INCOME COULD NOT SUPPORT IT.

I believe the Senators who are voting yes today are not listening to their constituents, the majority who believe this package in it's current form, is wrong and does nothing for the average hardworking American taxpayer. Rather than asking us what we think, they are voting as they wish to. This package is no reassurance to the American people as Mitch McConnell wants us to think! This is simply a knee-jerk reaction based on Mr. Paulsons scare tactics.

I have great reservations to the need for such a bailout due to the unknown obligations that will rear its ugly head in the future. Next we will be forced to choose between losing on a bad investment (bailout) and/or the need to throw more money into the abyss. The Senate has again shown its' arrogance by incorporating an additional bill that protects wooden arrows and rum. The people need to force Congress to write and pass "SUBJECT" specific bills. If the Senat sees the need to protect wooden arrows and rum as being as urgent as the financial future of America, they need to be removed NOW! It is/was with great reluctance that I supported this attempt at bailing out the financial institutions; however, being the Senate sees fit to hoodwink and deceive us (STILL) I withhold my support any type of bailout.

I believe the bailout should go as followed: Instead of giving money to the companys, the government should buy the individual loans, act as mortgage company. The property will sell at reduced rate. Everyone is happy - money goes back to the government and housing market starts to sell again. Simple...

This is a bad idea. However the final legislation is written, the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) being rushed through Congress will evidently be built around its single worst provision, which is that the Treasury will have authority to purchase distressed mortgage securities from U.S. financials. As I noted last week, the sequence of bankruptcies that we've observed among U.S. financials has been almost exactly in order of their gross leverage (the ratio of total assets to shareholder equity). The reason for that is: 1) as the assets of a financial company lose value, the losses reduce the asset side of the balance sheet, but also reduce shareholder equity on the liability side; 2) as the cushion of shareholder equity becomes thinner, customers begin to make withdrawals; 3) in order to satisfy customer withdrawals, the financial company is forced to liquidate assets at distressed prices, prompting a further reduction in shareholder equity; 4) go back to 1) and continue the vicious cycle until shareholder equity goes negative and the company becomes insolvent. Re: John Hussman, Phd

Lowering taxes across the board is enough to stimulate our economy. Let the real estate and stock market correction happen, but reduce taxes and wasteful government spending. We can reduce government spending by adopting a constitutional amendment to eliminate earmarks, call it the Honest and Clean Bill Amendment. This can be done without Congress, so they don't have to look bad in front of their constituents for not bringing home the bacon. We can organize a convention of the States and get it done in one weekend. While we're at it we can repeal the income tax amendment.

I forgot to mention--Pass Ron Paul's H.R. 2755 ABOLISHING the FEDERAL RESERVE, a PRIVATE corporation, whose shareholders receive interest paid by taxpayers for printing money at the stroke of a pen.

I totally support Dave Ramsey's plan. Do we really want to give $700 billion to the same people who were the ones who watched, refused to see the potential problem, and help cause the crisis we now have. Let Dave's program work and in time the situation will improve. The bill presently being proposed by the Senate is a typical government spend at all costs - no matter the consequences. This is not what our country needs at this time. GO DAVE RAMSEY!!!

This is a bad idea. However the final legislation is written, the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) being rushed through Congress will evidently be built around its single worst provision, which is that the Treasury will have authority to purchase distressed mortgage securities from U.S. financials. The sequence of bankruptcies that we've observed among U.S. financials has been almost exactly in order of their gross leverage (the ratio of total assets to shareholder equity). The reason for that is: 1) as the assets of a financial company lose value, the losses reduce the asset side of the balance sheet, but also reduce shareholder equity on the liability side; 2) as the cushion of shareholder equity becomes thinner, customers begin to make withdrawals; 3) in order to satisfy customer withdrawals, the financial company is forced to liquidate assets at distressed prices, prompting a further reduction in shareholder equity; 4) go back to 1) and continue the vicious cycle until shareholder equity goes negative and the company becomes insolvent. Re: John Hussman, PhD

Allow taxpayers to claim Homeowner Association Fees and Home insurance as a deduction each year. Currently, we are allowed to deduct property taxes, interest and mortgage insurance. If we include the rest, we gain: 1. People more willing to get home insurance on their house and keep it. 2. People more willing to pay their HOA fees thus allowing the HOA communities to still maintain without increasing fees. 3. Provide a benefit to all homeowners no matter what state of default they are in. 4. Encourage more single people to buy for deductions -- giving the middle class single or divorce people a break.

If we must let the federal government bail itself out then put Congressman Ron Paul in charge. He knows more about this financial mess than anyone else in Washington. Contrary to the talking heads in congrees and the govt run media pouring water on a grease fire is not better than doing nothing.

I feel our congress has gone completely corrupt. Both parties. Every congress person is in the job for themselves. They make millions off of behind closed door dealings with corporations and Quasi-government entities like Freddie-Mac and Fannie-may. I am shocked that America has not collectively screamed at the mess our Congress has created. The bail-out should be renamed to "cover-up". I would like to see an investigation into who exactly is to blame for this mess. You and I would be fired if we were to do something at our work that were to cause such an upheaval to our economy. Who in our oversight (Congress) gets fired for this? One way to help pay for this mess is to cut the pay to congress. How else can they have any repercussions other than if their constituents were to vote them out? There is so much spin from both parties that no one can believe anything they hear. We are the Roman Senate.

Let the markets do what the markets do. Government interference (aka Bailout) will only result in loss of confidence in the market. Congress should not change the rules in the middle of a game. I have talked to probably 20 people and not one of them wants to bailout Wall St. with our tax dollars. Read the Constitution for crying out loud.

I do not wish to bail out any businesses, that is not what the Government is for. We must allow these failing businesses to fail otherwise our tax dollars are saving the jobs of individuals, not saving just the economy. Stimulate the economy, yes, but do not allow any golden parachutes to get paid because the U.S. Government saved any "existing" businesses or institutions. Do not waste the court's time arguing these cases, we haven't made that perfectly clear in this proposal. I think the public should insist on disclosure of any political candidate's FICO score in the future, after all we are allowing these elected officials spend taxpayers dollars, shouldn't we concern ourselves with how responsible they are?

Send all of the news reporters, directors, and media CEO's to Siberia on vacation until after the election, and take Nancy Pelosi, as PR director, with Harry Reid, as her assistant, with them.

The rich get richer and the poor get poorer... it's about time that got turned on it's head! The poor are accustomed to getting by, but the rich will all struggle very hard with having to tighten their belts. Well too bad! Now maybe you'll learn what it means to sacrifice for your families too.

No Bailout PERIOD !!!!!!

No Bailout !!!! Let the free market deal with it. The Sky is not falling.

The original Paulson Plan would have been the best solution. To buy distressed assets while there is blood in the streets; at the same time having the power to actually support the value of the underlying assets would have been the trade of the century. The government would have most likely made money on the deal while loosening up tight credit markets for everyone. The people opposed to the plan either did not understand it or were cutting off their nose to spite their face.

Please use the Dave Ramsey model that has been posted above, so simple and uses a minimal amout of tax money. The current senate bill stinks!John McCain warned us what these guys would do.

Let the economy adjust by itself and fire Dodd and Paulson!! Why is the media saying that main street people do not understand the plan. We need a voice. We DO understand what we are facing. But what the people in goverment and others do not understand is that America is greedy. Creditors shove credit in the face of the middle and lower class for greed. We do not need the credit. We need to get back to living within our means. What is so bad about saving for a car, TV or what ever we need. We just go get credit and can have anything we need. But when it comes to pay for it we can not because we could not afford it to begin with. If we go into a depression would it be such a bad thing. No credit, No stress to keep up with the Jones's, Helping our neighbors, Getting back to family, Saving ect. Sounds good to me. America is strong and we will survive but goverment intervention will be the death of us all. That is what we are afraid of.

I'm so outraged, I'm in tears. A tax cut for wooden arrows???? I've texted Barack Obama at 62262 and told him I couldn't vote for him if he voted yes to this tragedy and travesty. I'm emailing to every senator in the nation (i'm up to north dakota) Dave Ramsey's Common Sense plan found at daveramsey.com. What do i think? THE FIX IS IN!! How about we listen to the 400+ economists on this issue. Remove the Mark to Market rule. Increase FDIC to $250,000. Make it mandatory that these banks BUY insurance against the loans they make. If we MUST put money into the syste, how about we put it directly towards credit to free it up, along with it being mandatory that the banks MUST now lend money. There are so many alternatives to this mess it's sickening. I'm crying due to the hubris in the senate and that they just won't listen to the people.

Why can't the senate review the plan that Senator Peter DeFazio and Senator Marcy Kaptur have put together. I think Main Street is really looking at this vote and the polls this November will show that we are watching this time

Do not pass any "bailout." All it would mean would be more government interference in a free market system (which caused the crisis in the first place); and another step toward our becoming a socialist society (spell that FAILED). There will be some pain, but our capitalist system will correct over time.

Here comes the pork. That is how it became a 451 page document. Democrat Pork! Alternative Energy Tax Credits Expand Child Tax Credit Disaster Relief Fund Mental Health Insurance Provision Exsise Tax Credit on Rum Something about Wooden Arrows & Racetracks (No Kidding!)

1. Let bad decision makers be punished by the market. We then have a capital shortage. 2. Pass the Fair Tax, repeal 16th amendment, abolish the IRS. This will cause a flood of capital like this country has never seen. 3. Abolish the FED. Without them none of this disaster would have been possible. There is no violent business cycle without the FED. Problems solved. Easy. If this is really a financial armageddon, and the end of the world as we know it, then it should be met with bold action like this. Of course this is all just an excuse to bail out the campaign financiers, so no real solution will be in the bill. Just socialism for the rich and for the poor with a big "up yours" to the small businesses and middle class.

Senate and Reps: Vote No or No Vote (for you in next election).

No bailout. Let the "Market-Based" approach save the tax payers. From the Pittsbugh Post Gazetee editorial: "...in political defeat and financial despair, there is opportunity: • Cut the growth-killing corporate tax rate, "zero out" the capital gains tax and return a prodigious amount of private capital to the market. • Repeal Sarbanes-Oxley. The regulations designed to combat fraud only encumbered many thin-margin smaller businesses with millions in compliance costs, damaging job creation where it can be most prolific. • The "mark-to-market" bank accounting method must be scrapped. It fueled "value uncertainty" that killed confidence. • Raise the FDIC guarantee on transaction accounts at banks. Without it, the government's deal last week granting an unlimited guarantee on money market funds could cause bank runs. Government has failed multiple times in the current crisis. It's now time for government to enable the very markets it derides and disrespects to save the day." I agree and so should Congress.

1. Release the money in increments of 175b per year with extreme accountability, with the option of cancelling the deal at any time and a limimted time for the money to be paid back. The govt should be given at least 51% of all business the funds are allocated to, with the right to sell their interest at any time. Simultaneously allow homeowners who lost their homes, if they are still available, to move back into them,and those who are facing foreclosure to immediately allow a 40 to 45 year fixed mortgage rate not to exceed 6.5% This will immediately generate liquid funds back into the system and give back value to the trash notes the banks are trying to pond off the govt. 2. Any debt generated prior to Sept 1, 2008 will be allowed a once in a life time straight tax write off up to $15,000. When you get to your Federal income tax line entry showing if you owe or get a refund, you can subtract this write off. This will stimulate the economy rapidly. 3. Immediate investigation of all investment firms to find the guilty parties of this fiasco. If found guilty all assests will be taken from them and distributed evenly to all people who file Federal Income taxes 4. Current bail out should cap all salaries, and nobody should be allowed any monetary gain from this grave problem.

I too support the Dave Ramsey plan, and am AGAINST the current $700Billion "Cowpattie with a Marshmellow" plan that Congress is working on. I am taking notes of who votes for it and will vote against them in November.

Let the Fed loan the banks the money, No Bailout! This is what its all about, correct? Remember handup, not handout? I like Newt's ideas; suspend the 'Mark to Market' rule The only thing missing is; some people have gotta go! Fire the following: Frank, Dodd, Paulson, the CEO's.... Basically, all of the stooges that put us in this predicament. I mean, really! Would you have been allowed to keep your job?

Vote NO on all incumbents!

I want to get sick every time I see Bush, Obama, McCain,Paulson,Barney Frank, Nancy Pelosi, Chris Dodd and every other Washington elected official involved in this crisis on television. Give the ball to Warren Buffet, let him pick his team and submitt the plan to congress to enact.

First, to start off, the problem with this plan, as I see and understand it... $700 billion being pushed into an already over inflated market.....given right to the people that caused this problem in the first place, big mortgage companies...right now the drop in commodities and other stock prices although they are a very big drop and brings a lot of worry to many Americans is due to an over inflated market that has had previous money shoved into it to stop problems in the past, that is all this will do is provide a band-aid, which could last years, but if the heart of the problem isn't fixed then down the road we will be seeing a worse economic problem -what could $700 billion buy? ......The price of the war in Iraq up until this point with $50 billion left over ......1,750 bridges to no where .......22 million Americans average yearly salary .......or hey you could just give $250,000 to every grown (18+) American and let them do with it what they please (this one sounds good to me....I know a lot of college age people that would love a little help to pay for school and more!!) ---CITED FROM FOX NEWS -Why is this supposed BAILOUT no good? ...because its that, a bailout to those who got us into this mess, it doesn't set enough tough regulations to keep this from happening again ......yes it stops some Golden Parachutes but only if the government buys $300 million+ of that specific companies bad investments .......It still allows for the top dogs, CEO's, to walk out on a company at anytime and receive a huge benefit, if a company releases their CEO/top dogs then they cannot receive a Golden Parachute (a plus but not good enough) ......When you put this much money of the American Economy into the hands of the Government you go from a Capitalist economy to a Government controlled economy Little bit of Politics..... -Why would Obama support this plan? This destroys most of this priorities if elected President because now the government is that much more in debt...when might we be taxed to help keep the economy afloat...never know what is next once the government assumes control -John McCain: needs to take this opportunity to come up with a better plan and show he is listening to the common/middle class people of the country who still see this BAILOUT as only helping the BIG companies ----Some other Ideas------ I mean when you think about it, a big problem to American people is Global Warming, here's a time to lose the excuse that there is no money to invest in "alternate resources." If we as a country can some how magically come up with $700 billion to throw into the economy why not break this money up and divide it between other struggle or needed investments such as: 1. Alternate Energy Resources- put a $100 billion into wind energy, solar power, and researching new forms of fuel for cars (ex. hydrogen) ----The government continues to use the excuse "we don't have the money for that," when it comes to getting us free from the grip of oil tycoons.... ----along with that provide bigger rebates for Americans who use their own money to invest in Alternate energy cars and such things 2. Yes put some of the money back into the housing market, but not just to these Big companies who deceived the American people already but rather, create a way that people in these mortgage problems can get a fixed rate loan that they can actually pay 3. Take some of the money and put it into the THREE big car companies which support many cities and many American jobs in this country. Help them through this time by lending them money at a low interest rate so they can produce better fuel efficient cars at a quicker rate than the poor government standards of 2025. 4. Increase this year's tax rebate to families so they can invest it how they please (a McCain idea), or help pay for their debt/mortgage. 5. Lastly we need to educate the American people, that is why we are in this mess anyways! To many people signed crappy adjustable rate mortgages because they didn't know any better. So to put it bluntly this has been cause by two basic problems; some Americans stupidity, and the lack of regulations on unEthical big mortgage companies who thought they could get away with this forever. Back to the basics of teaching Americans to Spend less than they make, and Save for time of Crisis!

To me congress sends a troubling mixed message! On one hand the whole country will fail if we don't act today. On the other hand lets take a couple days off. Lets give the military, police, and hospital workers the same deal. We have patriots and we have the takers. Even in a crisis Congress is still on the take mode.

Was any of Ronald Reagan's DNA saved or stored anywhere? If so, we need to pass a "flu-shot" like program to inject these twits in Congress. Raise the FDIC limit to no limit, lower cap gain taxes, business taxes, destroy Sarbanes-Oxley, mark-to market rules changed, insurance is best way rather than give away, and prevent the Dems from putting pay outs to their buddies at ACORN, and do not allow bailouts for foreign investors. Let the markets roll. Europe and Asia are doing a lot of housecleaning as we write. this would not have happened if the vote was passed on Monday.

To Correct the Financial Crisis: 1. Get rid of every liberal Democrat in the House and Senate. 2. Let the banks, financial institutions and morgagors that caused this mess to fail..no bailout. 3. Manadate that institutions provide loans, credit and other financial instruments to credit worthy indviduals, firms and institutions (Manadate guidelines). Then have the Federal Government insure those loans, credit and financial instruments against loss. Financial institutions to pay the preminums for such insurance. Peter Osredkar

We The People need to all come together with one voice, and let Congress know that, regardless of Party, we will vote out ANY Congressman that helps to pass any bill which calls for taxpayers to foot the bill for this mess.

Let the government extend these shysters a loan. After all, it’s these financial guru’s who scammed the American public into these loans. Make the corporations accountable for their decisions. Have any congressional member and CEO who supported the scams held accountable as well. I worked for a reputable mortgage lender at the time of the housing boom; they were sold some subprime loans. They were told that 75% of these loans were in good standing. After the sale, the company found out that 75% of the loans were in default. The mortgage loans were written for consumers without the added cost of taxes and insurance. This company forced placed escrow accounts to cover the back taxes and insurance on these homes. This forced the current accounts to delinquency. Since that time, most of those loans have been rewritten by the reputable company and are showing good on their book. The moral of this story is, their good sense brought them shining through this mess.

I really do beleive that if the feds wrote each tax payer a big check instead of bailing out these companies, that should have known better than to do what they did to get in to this mess, the economy would bounce like never before. If people payed off their morgages crisis solved, if they put it in savings or investments bang the institutions have money again to lend, if the people went on some crazy spending spree the money goes right back into the economy were it should be. And by the way if we did receive a million dollar check from the feds they would get 35% of it right back from income tax. Sounds like a no brainer.

The gov't should setup mortgage offices within each state. Citizens apply for assistance. Basically, the gov't pays off the current individuals mortgage and develops a refinance plan with each individual at a reasonable rate and term. There will be instances where individuals will be "bad" risks and therefore will still be foreclosed on by banks. But, hopefully, in most cases terms can be worked out. This will eliviate bad mortgages from banks books, banks will still have foreclosure but limited. It should open credit markets up, help stabalize the housing market and keep the average american in their home. Of course, the plan should be limited to mortgages no more than $500K and to those individuals affected by interest rate hikes.

I would like to see the largest 'perp walk' in US history. Round up every person who had a role in this debacle, arrest them on charges that would make them hire a lawyer, make them defend themselves in public, etc. You know the offenders, go get em, and restore some semblance of responsibility in government. Government has no respect.

Common Sense Plan. I. INSURANCE A. Insure the subprime bonds/mortgages with an underlying FHA-type insurance. Government-insured and backed loans would have an instant market all over the world, creating immediate and needed liquidity. B. In order for a company to accept the government-backed insurance, they must do two things: 1. Rewrite any mortgage that is more than three months delinquent to a 6% fixed-rate mortgage. a. Roll all back payments with no late fees or legal costs into the balance. This brings homeowners current and allows them a chance to keep their homes. b. Cancel all prepayment penalties to encourage refinancing or the sale of the property to pay off the bad loan. In the event of foreclosure or short sale, the borrower will not be held liable for any deficit balance. FHA does this now, and that encourages mortgage companies to go the extra mile while working with the borrower—again limiting foreclosures and ruined lives. 2. Cancel ALL golden parachutes of EXISTING and FUTURE CEOs and executive team members as long as the company holds these government-insured bonds/mortgages. This keeps underperforming executives from being paid when they don’t do their jobs. C. This backstop will cost less than $50 billion—a small fraction of the current proposal. II. MARK TO MARKET A. Remove mark to market accounting rules for two years on only subprime Tier III bonds/mortgages. This keeps companies from being forced to artificially mark down bonds/mortgages below the value of the underlying mortgages and real estate. B. This move creates patience in the market and has an immediate stabilizing effect on failing and ailing banks—and it costs the taxpayer nothing. III. CAPITAL GAINS TAX A. Remove the capital gains tax completely. Investors will flood the real estate and stock market in search of tax-free profits, creating tremendous—and immediate—liquidity in the markets. Again, this costs the taxpayer nothing. B. This move will be seen as a lightning rod politically because many will say it is helping the rich. The truth is the rich will benefit, but it will be their money that stimulates the economy. This will enable all Americans to have more stable jobs and retirement investments that go up instead of down. This is not a time for envy, and it’s not a time for politics. It’s time for all of us, as Americans, to stand up, speak out, and fix this mess.

The "rescue" plan won't solve the credit crunch. Banks must see an end to the downward spiral of bank net worths. To do so: 1. FNMA/FMAC should reduce mortgage rates to 5% (or even 3% if necessary) to soak up the glut of unsold homes in the marketplace. (The unsold single-family dwellings inventory is about $1.1T.) This would stop (artificially, but necessarily) the downward house price spiral and reassure banks. 2. Mark-to-market (FAS157) should be replaced by an equally-transparent mark-to-model based on hold-to-maturity. Require valuation to be the NET PRESENT VALUE using the prior-quarter cash flow of a mortgage-backed security (MBS or CDO) extrapolated to maturity, with a 4% discount rate. This would stop the artificial lowering of bank assets to fire-sale prices.

No Bailout or rescue as they now want to call it. I'm not convinced that a bailout of these large banks is need as they bought the bad paper and at that juncture accepted the credit risk. they need to be responable for their business decisions. In no instance should there be a government purchase of any of this bad paper! If there is crisis then we should remove the accounting rule "mark to market"; either the government insure the bad paper, like we did with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In addition eliminate the capital gains tax which would provide an investment incentive to restart the U.S. economy.